NHS worker Jordan Jackson pictured on his narrowboat
Jordan feels a way of neighborhood out on the water (Image: @joranjackson_00/Mercury Press)

An NHS employee has forgone modern-living and slashed his spending in half by residing on the water.

Nature-loving Jordan Jackson, 38, at the moment lives on a 51ft slim boat along with his cat, Bella, on the Ashby canal.

Whereas residing on the boat has given Jordan a less expensive life, being canalside has additionally crammed him with pleasure and a way of neighborhood. 

His love of crusing comes from blissful childhood recollections along with his household and now he's embracing his ‘off the grid’ life-style. 

Since shifting to the boat, Jordan has lowered his payments from £675 to £350 on common monthly. 

‘I used to be wanting to buy a home at first,’ Jordan stated.

‘The boat has given me a possibility to purchase someplace to reside for lower than £40,000. On this space, it's tough to search out something for lower than £120,000, so this can be a large saving.

‘It’s an effective way of residing as a result of there’s much less lease to pay.’

Jordan pictured inside the boat
Jordan contained in the boat (Image: joranjackson_00/Mercury Press)

He continued: ‘After I moor in a marina, my lease is barely round £250 a month however after I’m repeatedly cruising within the canal, there isn't a mooring price.

‘Once you examine that to renting a home that’s quite a bit cheaper.

‘Earlier than this, I used to be spending £600 a month simply on lease.’

Jordan’s uncommon life-style has additionally helped him save half his money on utility payments.

‘I pay £20 on electrical,’ he explains. ‘However I plan on getting photo voltaic panels subsequent yr which is able to save me much more cash.

‘In case you have photo voltaic panels, you hardly use any electrical energy, so it’ll go right down to mainly zero.’

Jordan hopes that by saving extra cash he can ultimately lower down his work hours and grow to be extra concerned in actions that he enjoys. 

‘It's going to additionally give me the chance to maybe work part-time in 10 years and focus extra on contributing to ecological tasks,’ he added. 

He notes that this life-style has launched him to like-minded individuals who share his love for nature and it’s a neighborhood he loves. 

Jordan's cat Bella sitting on the green narrowboat
Jordan’s cat Bella lounging on the boat (Image: joranjackson_00/Mercury Press)

‘There’s a neighborhood. Everybody helps one another and checks in on each other,’ he defined.

‘You cease and discuss to your neighbours. It jogs my memory of communities like within the previous days the place everybody spoke and frolicked.

‘Again in my flat, you would possibly solely say good day to your neighbour. Right here, you prepare dinner along with your neighbours and go to the pub collectively.

‘Some individuals would possibly assume it’s a lonely life-style, however I don’t assume it's in any respect.’

Jordan pictured out on the water in his narrowboat
Jordan adores his new life-style (Image: joranjackson_00/Mercury Press)

Jordan is aware of the ecological facet of canalside residing and tries to be as environmentally cautious as he can.

‘I attempt to reside as eco-friendly as I can. I don’t drive, I cycle in all places,’ he stated. 

‘There's a log burner on the boat, however I purchase eco coal made out of olive stones. I don’t use fossil fuels and any wooden I burn is often offcuts.

‘On the whole, it’s extra eco-friendly. You grow to be extra aware of the footprints you’re making on the planet.’

Jordan adores his new life-style however does say there are a couple of modern-day issues that he's struggling to resolve. 

‘It's a bit tough since you don’t have a postal deal with residing on a ship,’ he added.

‘In order for you one thing from Amazon it's important to ship it to a pickup level.’

Nonetheless, all in all, Jordan wouldn’t change a factor and credit his life-style as an assist to his psychological well being. He now has true independence and freedom to journey each time and wherever he needs. 

‘I’m not tied down in a single spot,’ he stated.. 

‘You possibly can take your home on vacation along with your pets, and also you don’t should pay a fortune to go away.’